Coronavirus live updates: Oxford Covid vaccine 'safe and well-tolerated' in older age groups

Europe made up almost half of the world's 4 million new coronavirus cases last week but recorded a nearly 10 per cent fall in infections compared to the week before, thanks in part to strict government lockdown measures that have fanned some discontent, the World Health Organization reported Wednesday. In the German capital of Berlin, violent clashes between those protesting coronavirus restrictions and police erupted Wednesday near the center of the city after protesters disregarded police advice to wear masks and social distance.

Pfizer Inc on Tuesday updated its analysis of the safety profile of its Covid-19 vaccine seen during its large, late-stage trial, saying that 3.8% of participants experienced fatigue after receiving a second dose of the shot. It said the updated analysis was based on 8,000 trial participants. Pfizer said in a previous analysis that 3.7% of 6,000 volunteers had experienced fatigue.

A three-pronged approach was undertaken by the government to tackle Covid-19 which was based upon strengthening health systems and forging new partnerships, Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Wednesday said. Speaking at the inaugural session at Asia Health 2020 organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry, he said a "whole of society and whole of government approach" with strong leadership, communication and decisions based on science was undertaken by the government. "The second approach was strengthening health systems by building on past efforts, by relying on current strategies, by deploying new technology, by strengthening existing partnerships and forging new partnerships. The third approach was the digital initiatives undertaken by the union government to help in our fight against Covid," he said.